A NORTH-EAST MP is calling for heads to be banged together to resolve continuing delays in compensating sick and dying ex-miners.

John Cummings, MP for Easington, says Government, unions, lawyers and doctors are each blaming another.

He is asking for a top-level meeting between all parties to sort out the mess.

Putting down an Early Day Motion, he said the meeting should include the Department of Trade and Industry, solicitors' groups, National Union of Mineworkers, IRISC and Health Call, "so that the problems can be identified and a common solution agreed." But a DTI spokes-man robustly defended the Government's recent record and ruled out a special meeting.

''Government Ministers and the DTI have regular contact and meetings with solicitors, trade unions and other parties on a regular basis", the spokesman said.

"The blame culture is an old issue and we must move on from it. The issue is working together to give miners the justice they deserve."

The spokesman said now was not the time to change the system. "We are now really beginning to deliver. Around half a billion pounds had been paid out with over 23,000 medical assessments completed, compared with 8,000 at the beginning of the year.''

It was the biggest such compensation scheme ever.

But Mr Cummings rejected this response.

''At present things are totally unsatisfactory, even though I recognised the progress that has been made.''

He pointed out that the DTI's own figures showed that at the present rate it would take between five to ten years for all compensation to be paid out.

''It is causing great misery to men who quite frankly may not be around in five years' time.''